Second Foundation 19. End of War

QUORISTON, BATTLE OF Fought on 9, 17, 377 F.E. between the forces of the Foundation and those of Lord Stettin of Kalgan, it was the last battle of consequence during the Interregnum†¦ Encyclopedia Galactica Jole Turbor, in his new role of war correspondent, found his bulk incased in a naval uniform, and rather liked it. He enjoyed being back on the air, and some of the fierce helplessness of the futile fight against the Second Foundation left him in the excitement of another sort of fight with substantial ships and ordinary men. To be sure, the Foundation's fight had not been remarkable for victories, but it was still possible to be philosophic about the matter. After six months, the hard core of the Foundation was untouched, and the hard core of the Fleet was still in being. With the new additions since the start of the war, it was almost as strong numerically, and stronger technically, than before the defeat at Ifni. And meanwhile, planetary defenses were being strengthened; the armed forces better trained; administrative efficiency was having some of the water squeezed out of it – and much of the Kalganian's conquering fleet was being wallowed down through the necessity of occupying the â€Å"conquered† territory. At the moment, Turbor was with the Third Fleet in the outer reaches of the Anacreonian sector. In line with his policy of making this a â€Å"little man's war,† he was interviewing Fennel Leemor, Engineer Third Class, volunteer. â€Å"Tell us a little about yourself, sailor,† said Turbor. â€Å"Ain't much to tell,† Leemor shuffled his feet and allowed a faint, bashful smile to cover his face, as though he could see all the millions that undoubtedly could see him at the moment. I'm a Locrian. Got a job in an air-car factory; section head and good pay. I'm married; got two kids, both girls. Say, I couldn't say hello to them, could I – in case they're listening.† â€Å"Go ahead, sailor. The video is all yours.† â€Å"Gosh, thanks.† He burbled, â€Å"Hello, Milla, in case you're listening, I'm fine. Is Sunni all right? And Tomma? I think of you all the time and maybe I'll be back on furlough after we get back to port. I got your food parcel but I'm sending it back. We get our regular mess, but they say the civilians are a little tight. I guess that's all.† â€Å"I'll look her up next time I'm on Locris, sailor, and make sure she's not short of food. O.K.?† The young man smiled broadly and nodded his head. â€Å"Thank you, Mr. Turbor. I'd appreciate that.† â€Å"All right. Suppose you tell us, then – You're a volunteer, aren't you?† â€Å"Sure am. If anyone picks a fight with me, I don't have to wait for anyone to drag me in. I joined up the day I heard about the Hober Mallow.† â€Å"That's a fine spirit. Have you seen much action? I notice â€Å"You're wearing two battle stars.† â€Å"Ptah.† The sailor spat. â€Å"Those weren't battles, they were chases. The Kalganians don't fight, unless they have odds of five to one or better in their favor. Even then they just edge in and try to cut us up ship by ship. Cousin of mine was at Ifni and he was on a ship that got away, the old Ebling Mis. He says it was the same there. They had their Main Fleet against just a wing division of ours, and down to where we only had five ships left, they kept stalking instead of fighting. We got twice as many of their ships at that fight.† â€Å"Then you think we're going to win the war?† â€Å"Sure bet; now that we aren't retreating. Even if things got too bad, that's when I'd expect the Second Foundation to step in. We still got the Seldon Plan – and they know it, too.† Turbor's lips curled a bit. â€Å"You're counting on the Second Foundation, then?† The answer came with honest surprise. â€Å"Well, doesn't everyone?† Junior Officer Tippellum stepped into Turbor's room after the visicast. He shoved a cigarette at the correspondent and knocked his cap back to a perilous balance on the occiput. â€Å"We picked up a prisoner,† he said. â€Å"Yes?† â€Å"Little crazy fellow. Claims to be a neutral – diplomatic immunity, no less. I don't think they know what to do with him. His name's Palvro, Palver, something like that, and he says he's from Trantor. Don't know what in space he's doing in a war zone.† But Turbor had swung to a sitting position on his bunk and the nap he had been about to take was forgotten. He remembered quite well his last interview with Darell, the day after war had been declared and he was shoving off. â€Å"Preem Palver,† he said. It was a statement. Tippellum paused and let the smoke trickle out the sides of his mouth. â€Å"Yeah,† he said, â€Å"how in space did you know?† â€Å"Never mind. Can I see him?† â€Å"Space, I can't say. The old man has him in his own room for questioning. Everyone figures he's a spy.† â€Å"You tell the old man that I know him, if he's who he claims he is. I'II take the responsibility.† Captain Dixyl on the flagship of the Third Fleet watched unremittingly at the Grand Detector. No ship could avoid being a source of subatomic radiation – not even if it were lying an inert mass – and each focal point of such radiation was a little sparkle in the three-dimensional field. Each one of the Foundation's ships were accounted for and no sparkle was left over, now that the little spy who claimed to be a neutral had been picked up. For a while, that outside ship had created a stir in the captain's quarters. The tactics might have needed changing on short notice. As it was- â€Å"Are you sure you have it?† he asked. Commander Cenn nodded. â€Å"I will take my squadron through hyperspace: radius, 10.00 parsecs; theta, 268.52 degrees; phi, 84.15 degrees. Return to origin at 1330. Total absence 11.83 hours.† â€Å"Right. Now we are going to count on pin-point return as regards both space and time. Understand?† â€Å"Yes, captain.† He looked at his wrist watch, â€Å"My ships will be ready by 0140.† â€Å"Good,† said Captain Dixyl. The Kalganian squadron was not within detector range now, but they would be soon. There was independent information to that effect. Without Cenn's squadron the Foundation forces would be badly outnumbered, but the captain was quite confident. Quite confident. Preem Palver looked sadly about him. First at the tall, skinny admiral; then at the others, everyone in uniform; and now at this last one, big and stout, with his collar open and no tie – not like the rest – who said he wanted to speak to him. Jole Turbor was saying: â€Å"I am perfectly aware, admiral, of the serious possibilities involved here, but I tell you that if I can be allowed to speak to him for a few minutes, I may be able to settle the current uncertainty.† â€Å"Is there any reason why you can't question him before me?† Turbor pursed his lips and looked stubborn. â€Å"Admiral,† he said, â€Å"while I have been attached to your ships, the Third Fleet has received an excellent press. You may station men outside the door, if you like, and you may return in five minutes. But, meanwhile, humor me a bit, and your public relations will not suffer. Do you understand me?† He did. Then Turbor in the isolation that followed, turned to Palver, and said, â€Å"Quickly – what is the name of the girl you abducted.† And Palver could simply stare round-eyed, and shake his head. â€Å"No nonsense,† said Turbor. â€Å"If you do not answer, you will be a spy and spies are blasted without trial in war time.† â€Å"Arcadia Darell!† gasped Palver. â€Å"Well! All right, then. Is she safe?† Palver nodded. â€Å"You had better be sure of that, or it won't be well for you.† â€Å"She is in good health, perfectly safe,† said Palver, palely. The admiral returned, â€Å"Well?† â€Å"The man, sir, is not a spy. You may believe what he tells you. I vouch for him.† â€Å"That so?† The admiral frowned. â€Å"Then he represents an agricultural co-operative on Trantor that wants to make a trade treaty with Terminus for the delivery of grains and potatoes. Well, all right, but he can't leave now.† â€Å"Why not?† asked Palver, quickly. â€Å"Because we're in the middle of a battle. After it is over – assuming we're still alive – we'll take you to Terminus.† The Kalganian fleet that spanned through space detected the Foundation ships from an incredible distance and were themselves detected. Like little fireflies in each other's Grand Detectors, they closed in across the emptiness. And the Foundation's admiral frowned and said, â€Å"This must be their main push. Look at the numbers.† Then, â€Å"They won't stand up before us, though; not if Cenn's detachment can be counted on.† Commander Cenn had left hours before – at the first detection of the coming enemy. There was no way of altering the plan now. It worked or it didn't, but the admiral felt quite comfortable. As did the officers. As did the men. Again watch the fireflies. Like a deadly ballet dance, in precise formations, they sparked. The Foundation fleet edged slowly backwards. Hours passed and the fleet veered slowly off, teasing the advancing enemy slightly off course, then more so. In the minds of the dictators of the battle plan, there was a certain volume of space that must be occupied by the Kalganian ships. Out from that volume crept the Foundationers; into it slipped the Kalganians. Those that passed out again were attacked, suddenly and fiercely. Those that stayed within were not touched. It all depended on the reluctance of the ships of Lord Stettin to take the initiative themselves – on their willingness to remain where none attacked. Captain Dixyl stared frigidly at his wrist watch. It was 1310, â€Å"We've got twenty minutes,† he said. The lieutenant at his side nodded tensely, â€Å"It looks all right so far, captain. We've got more than ninety percent of them boxed. If we can keep them that way-â€Å" â€Å"Yes! If-â€Å" The Foundation ships were drifting forward again – very slowly. Not quick enough to urge a Kalganian retreat and just quickly enough to discourage a Kalganian advance. They preferred to wait. And the minutes passed. At 1325, the admiral's buzzer sounded in seventy-five ships of the Foundation's line, and they built up to a maximum acceleration towards the front-plane of the Kalganian fleet, itself three hundred strong. Kalganian shields flared into action, and the vast energy beams flicked out. Every one of the three hundred concentrated in the same direction, towards their mad attackers who bore down relentlessly, uncaringly and- At 1330, fifty ships under Commander Cenn appeared from nowhere, in one single bound through hyperspace to a calculated spot at a calculated time – and were spaced in tearing fury at the unprepared Kalganian rear. The trap worked perfectly. The Kalganians still had numbers on their side, but they were in no mood to count. Their first effort was to escape and the formation once broken was only the more vulnerable, as the enemy ships bumbled into one another's path. After a while, it took on the proportions of a rat hunt. Of three hundred Kalganian ships, the core and pride of their fleet, some sixty or less, many in a state of near-hopeless disrepair, reached Kalgan once more. The Foundation loss was eight ships out of a total of one hundred twenty-five. Preem Palver landed on Terminus at the height of the celebration. He found the furore distracting, but before he left the planet, he had accomplished two things, and received one request. The two things accomplished were: 1) the conclusion of an agreement whereby Palver's co-operative was to deliver twenty shiploads of certain foodstuffs per month for the next year at a war price, without, thanks to the recent battle, a corresponding war risk, and 2) the transfer to Dr. Darell of Arcadia's five short words. For a startled moment, Darell had stared wide-eyed at him, and then he had made his request. It was to carry an answer back to Arcadia. Palver liked it; it was a simple answer and made sense. It was: â€Å"Come back now. There won't be any danger.† Lord Stettin was in raging frustration. To watch his every weapon break in his hands; to feel the firm fabric of his military might part like the rotten thread it suddenly turned out to be – would have turned phlegmaticism itself into flowing lava. And yet he was helpless, and knew it. He hadn't really slept well in weeks. He hadn't shaved in three days. He had canceled all audiences. His admirals were left to themselves and none knew better than the Lord of Kalgan that very little time and no further defeats need elapse before he would have to contend with internal rebellion. Lev Meirus, First Minister, was no help. He stood there, calm and indecently old, with his thin, nervous finger stroking, as always, the wrinkled line from nose to chin. â€Å"Well,† shouted Stettin at him, â€Å"contribute something. We stand here defeated, do you understand? Defeated! And why? I don't know why. There you have it. I don't know why. Do you know why?† â€Å"I think so,† said Meirus, calmly. â€Å"Treason!† The word came out softly, and other words followed as softly. â€Å"You've known of treason, and you've kept quiet. You served the fool I ejected from the First Citizenship and you think you can serve whatever foul rat replaces me. If you have acted so, I will extract your entrails for it and burn them before your living eyes.† Meirus was unmoved. â€Å"I have tried to fill you with my own doubts, not once, but many times. I have dinned it in your ears and you have preferred the advice of others because it stuffed your ego better. Matters have turned out not as I feared, but even worse. If you do not care to listen now, say so, sir, and I shall leave, and, in due course, deal with your successor, whose first act, no doubt, will be to sign a treaty of peace.† Stettin stared at him red-eyed, enormous fists slowly clenching and unclenching. â€Å"Speak, you gray slug. Speak!† â€Å"I have told you often, sir, that you are not the Mule. You may control ships and guns but you cannot control the minds of your subjects. Are you aware, sir, of who it is you are fighting? You fight the Foundation, which is never defeated – the Foundation, which is protected by the Seldon Plan – the Foundation, which is destined to form a new Empire.† â€Å"There is no Plan. No longer. Munn has said so.† â€Å"Then Munn is wrong. And if he were right, what then? You and I, sir, are not the people. The men and women of Kalgan and its subject worlds believe utterly and deeply in the Seldon Plan as do all the inhabitants of this end of the Galaxy. Nearly four hundred years of history teach the fact that the Foundation cannot be beaten. Neither the kingdoms nor the warlords nor the old Galactic Empire itself could do it.† â€Å"The Mule did it.† â€Å"Exactly, and he was beyond calculation – and you are not. What is worse, the people know that you are not. So your ships go into battle fearing defeat in some unknown way. The insubstantial fabric of the Plan hangs over them so that they are cautious and look before they attack and wonder a little too much. While on the other side, that same insubstantial fabric fills the enemy with confidence, removes fear, maintains morale in the face of early defeats. Why not? The Foundation has always been defeated at first and has always won in the end. â€Å"And your own morale, sir? You stand everywhere on enemy territory. Your own dominions have not been invaded; are still not in danger of invasion – yet you are defeated. You don't believe in the possibility, even, of victory, because you know there is none. â€Å"Stoop, then, or you will be beaten to your knees. Stoop voluntarily, and you may save a remnant. You have depended on metal and power and they have sustained you as far as they could. You have ignored mind and morale and they have failed you. Now, take my advice. You have the Foundation man, Homir Munn. Release him. Send him back to Terminus and he will carry your peace offers.† Stettin's teeth ground behind his pale, set lips. But what choice had he? On the first day of the new year, Homir Munn left Kalgan again. More than six months had passed since he had left Terminus and in the interim, a war had raged and faded. He had come alone, but he left escorted. He had come a simple man of private life; he left the unappointed but nevertheless, actual, ambassador of peace. And what had most changed was his early concern over the Second Foundation. He laughed at the thought of that: and pictured in luxuriant detail the final revelation to Dr. Darell, to that energetic, young competent, Anthor, to all of them- He knew. He, Homir Munn, finally knew the truth.

How to Spot a Scam or Fraud in the Medical Field? Essay

There are many way to spot a scam or fraud in the medical field. Medical frauds range from people posing as doctors and practicing without a license, to useless supplements, worthless or dangerous diet aides, fake medicines and cures for cancer. Making good health decisions is hard and sadly some immoral people make it even more difficult by attempting to deceive and cheat the sick. Not everyone knows enough about medicine to spot a medical fraud or scam but this essay will give you some places to start. Avoiding medical fraud is important because a delay in real treatment can create potentially deadly complications. You should know that some medical frauds are simply con artists. Some medical fraud is simply a con artist looking for a quick pay off, so  you must know how to spot a con man. You also have to understand that many medical frauds are victims themselves. Many people who push bad medicine believe that they are actually helping because they have been fooled themselves by someone else. With these people the standard methods of spotting a con artist will not work because they honestly want to help. You should always check for the phrase â€Å"cure-all†. If a person tells you something is a cure-all 99% of the time it is actually a cure-nothing. Real medicine recognizes that each disease is unique and so there is no single procedure or substance that can cure all. Check for a single cause theory will also help. The corollary to the cure-all fraud is the single cause theory. This is simply the claim that all diseases and conditions can be explained by a single cause. Common examples of this fraud include unbalanced energy or toxins. Asking about side effects is important. Anything that has an ability to affect your body positively could also affect it negatively. If a person tells you that their treatment never has any side effects, you are likely dealing with a fraud or scam. You must listen for conspiracy theories. Since they lack scientific evidence to support their practice many medical frauds resort to wild-eyed conspiracy theories regarding other medicines. A popular example is the claim that scientists have cured all cancer, but they keep it secret so that they can make more money selling medicines for the symptoms. Obviously false as a patent on the cure for cancer would be the most valuable commodity the world has ever known. Listen for spiritual claims will also help. Spirituality is great, but it has no place in medicine. If a person claims a spiritual mechanism for how their treatments work, you might be dealing with a fraud of some type. While there  are  links between emotional well-being and physical condition, there is no medically-proven program for treating physical symptoms with mental or spiritual techniques. Pay for it at your own risk. Listen for claims regarding â€Å"toxins†. A popular fraud right now is the claim that everyone’s body accumulates mysterious toxins, usually in the colon or liver but sometimes throughout the entire body. Frauds claim that these mysterious toxins need to be removed because they are the cause of all diseases and ailments. This process often involves enemas, fasting, or ingesting a wide variety of herbs. There is no scientific evidence that the toxins exist, or that the cleansing process is at all beneficial. In many cases it is actually harmful. You should never take any medical advice from a person who recommends this treatment. Ask for their official title and look it up. Real medical professionals have what is called a â€Å"protected title†. This means that laws do not allow just anyone to call themselves by that title, you must first complete recognized training. Many frauds create a title that closely resembles the legally protected title and hope that average people do not know the difference. For example, dietitian and nutritionist. Only dietitian is protected, which means that anyone may call themselves a nutritionist if they wish. People without legally protected titles are not always frauds and scam artists, but they are much more likely to be. You should ask for their opinion on vaccinations. If someone opposes vaccinations it is a sure sign that they are some form of a medical fraud or quack, or at the very least uneducated. Ask a doctor that you trust. If you ever aren’t sure about something get a second opinion from a doctor that you know well and trust.

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Brand Analysis - Essay Example Nike was started in the early 1960s when Phillip Knight, the Chief Executive Officer and William Bowerman, partnered to develop a coach’s idea of manufacturing products that would help to improve the consumers’ performance, who were athletes, on the track (Coucha, 2011). Nike ventured into it with the promise to make possible â€Å"authentic, athletic performance† with their shoes (Schmidt & Chris, 2002). That became their brand promise. The brand image that Nike initially launched was purely an American emblem, associated with high performance, aggressive and innovative top male athletes. These athletes were considered achievers, in line with what Nike intended to present to the consumers (Coucha, 2011). In delivering their product related promise, Nike joined the growing aerobics arena which was influencing the design of shoes towards being more fashionable, albeit less durable. Although other manufacturers were using garments to manufacture shoes for the aerob ics market, Nike stuck to leather, which was more long lasting but considered less fashionable (Kunde, 2002). As part of extending their non tangible promise, Nike took to the corporate scene by embracing the global social responsibility. Initially, it was a reaction to public oppositions relating to their labor practices in Asia. To salvage their image, they changed their corporate labor strategy, campaigning to be the industry leader in worker relations. They refurbished their factories and improved the working conditions on their premises in Asia. Compensation packages for labor were raised and new global standards applied. They created a Corporate Responsibility Division to reflect their intention to care for the ‘World family of Nike† (Schmidt & Chris, 2002). A brand’s perception and recognition are considerably influenced by its visual presentation. For effective visual brand identity to be achieved, the use of particular and consistent visual elements is cr itical (Schmidt & Chris, 2002). To create a distinction, a logo, colors, fonts, and graphic elements are used. In terms of visual identity, Nike’s logo of the â€Å"swoosh† is outstanding and easy to remember by consumers. Globally, there is a 97% recognition and awareness for the Nike logo and brand (Coucha, 2011). This is further propelled by associating themselves with athletic celebrities with similar personalities as the Nike brand. Examples include Michael Jordan the basketball hero and Michael Johnson the sprinter. For the purpose of increasing their relevance in the European market, Nike began associating themselves with famous European sports personalities while maintaining their criteria of selecting names that matched the Nike personality of super achievers. Such names included Eric Cantona and Roberto Mandeni. They also sponsored local, European teams like Borussia Dortmund and Paris saint Germain. This had an appeal that made them a household name in Europ e (Holt, 2004). Advertising strategies were customized to reflect the similarities of European countries with the United States as a means of dealing with the diverse culture differences. As compared to Adidas, the German giants, Nike portrays a more self expressive and emotional personality in its brand image. This gives for a challenging, hardworking and winning mentality with a focus on

Entreprenuership and Innovation BUS7001 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Entreprenuership and Innovation BUS7001 - Essay Example The question that needs to be asked should therefore centre on how to create a competitive urge over competitors. This is for now, what the present report seeks to achieve by analysing all factors that centre on the product and the market so as to put the product in a better position to penetrate the market (Aldrich and Weiss, 2001). A lot of research will also be done on the product involved so as to establish the key strengths of the product that needs to be built upon and some weaknesses that need to be improved. An assessment of the factors in the marketplace into which you suggest the product could be sold Sale in universities and other educational institutions where students have daily demand for cooking There are several factors on the prevailing market that suggest that the product cold easily be sold. One of such factors has to do with the fact that there are at every point in time, students in various universities and colleges who are in hostels and have regular demand for cooking. These students are not fed by the school and thus have to depend on their own provision for food (Aldrich, 2009). With growing concern for the need to stay healthy in one’s eating habit also, the likelihood that these students will resort to ready-cooked food is also minimal. This therefore means that a lot of these students will have to cook for themselves. Again, considering the fact that there is an ever growing student population in our country, one thing remains clear and that is, the product will certainly have a very large customer base among the students if the university cooking factor is considered critically. Another factor within the university factor that makes the product very viable and suitable for the university population is that students do not have much time for activities like cooking and are therefore always looking for avenues that will make cooking fast and less involving – something that this new product can easily give them (Bender, 2 000). Sale in places where the use of electricity as the source of energy as compared to gas is seen to be cheaper and easily accessible. Another important factor that suggests that the product will easily sell on the marketplace has to do with the every growing concern for the need to use electricity as a preferred source of energy instead of gas. It would be noted that gas has for long remained the major supply of energy for most homes in developed and developing worlds. However, the risks involved are fast being calculated by scientists and other experts. Some of these include pollution, degradation of the environment, greenhouse effect and dangers of causing fire (Birley and Westhead, 2004). With such concerns, the focus has now shifted to the use of electricity. Knowing that the new product is powered by electricity, the company has an advantage and potential in selling the product in places where the use of electricity as the source of energy is regarded as safer and environme ntally friendly option. Even more, electricity continues to be a cheaper source of energy as compared to gas and other forms of energy for powering cooking devices like

Assessment Template Essay Example for Free

Assessment Template Essay A trainer of this Competency Unit must: †¢ have demonstrated competency under this Competency Unit †¢ have at least 2 years related experience in the Manufacturing Industry †¢ be certified competent in preparation, delivery and evaluation of training sessions or relevant National Trainer Competency Standards certification (ACTA) Assessor Requirements An assessor of this Competency Unit must: †¢ have demonstrated competency under this Competency Unit †¢ have at least 2 years related experience in the Manufacturing Industry †¢ be certified  competent in the conduct of competency-based assessments or relevant National Trainer Competency Standards certification (ACTA) Candidates Profile Description of candidates: Age group: 21 to 55 years old Education level: PSLE or equivalent Language: Chinese / Basic English Minimum ability of: †¢ Singapore Workplace Safety and Health requirements knowledge †¢ Follow written and oral work instructions †¢ Listen, read and write English at a proficiency level equivalent to Employability Skills system (ESS) Level 3 †¢ Manipulate numbers at a proficiency level equivalent to Employability Skills system (ESS). Level 3  Special needs of candidates As the candidates are expected to have a varying level of command of the English Language, it is expected that the assessor shall apply the principle of fairness without comprising the validity and reliability of the assessment especially during oral questioning where candidate’s comprehension of the questions may be impacted by the command of English. In this case, the assessor can paraphrase the questions in order to solicit a response from the candidate. Evidence Gathering Plan for Performance Statement. |Performance Statement |Assessment Criteria |Assessment | | |(Candidate is able to) | | | | |Method |Tools | |PS 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |PS 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |PS 3 | | | | | | | | | |PS 4 | | | | Evidence Gathering Plan for Underpinning Knowledge |Underpinning Knowledge (UK) |Assessment Criteria |Assessment | | |(Candidate is able to) | | | | |Method |Tools | |UK 1 | | | | |UK 2 | | | | |UK 3 | | | | |UK 4 | | | | |UK 5 | | | | |UK 6 | | | | |UK 7 | | | | |UK 8 | | | | |UK 9 | | | | |UK 10 | | | | Assessment Specification for Practical Performance. |SPECIFICATIONS |GUIDELINES | |Duration |xx minutes | |Venue |Training Provider | |Set-up |Simulated condition / environment with the capacity for up to 15 candidates for conduct of | | |assessment and equipped with, but not limited to: | |Documents to be used |For Candidate – Practical Performance Assessment Paper | | | For Assessor – Practical Performance Assessment Paper (with answers) and Individual Assessment| | |and Checklist Summary record | |Pre-assessment instructions |Prepare the test materials, checklists, hand tools, measurement devices and equipment required| |(Assessor) |for work assignment. Place it at designated locations. | | |Instruct the candidates to retrieve test materials, checklists, hand tools measurement devices| | |and equipment from the designated locations. | |Pre-assessment instructions |Inform candidates the following before commencement of assessment: | |(Candidate) |Purpose of the assessment | | |Assessment duration | | |Performance statements expected | | |Method of assessment – Direct observation | | |Verification of candidate’s identity | | |Appeal procedures | | |Workplace Safety and Health requirements if any | | |Special needs if any | | |If candidates have no further questions or needs, assessment shall begin. | |Process |The work assignment consists of three tasks as follow: | | |Task 1: | | |Task 2: | | |It is suggested that assessors conduct the tasks sequentially starting with Task 1 and end | | |with Task 2 and use the Individual Assessment and Checklist Summary record for Practical | | |Performance Record to rate the observations against the performance statements and criteria | | |Where assessor is not able to ascertain the competency during practical performance, this can | | |be supplemented by oral questioning | | | If candidate  does not demonstrate competence against any PS, the candidate should still be | | |allowed to complete the assessment. | | |The result of the assessment will be made known at the end of the test | |Recording Assessment Result: |Record findings and conclusions in Individual Assessment and Checklist Summary record for | | |Practical Performance | | |Place a tick in the â€Å"C† column for â€Å"Competent† to indicate the outcome of the assessment for a| | |PS. | | |Place a tick in the â€Å"NYC† column for â€Å"Not Yet Competent† to indicate the outcome of the | | |assessment for a PS. | | |Record observations of competence | | |Record any questions asked and the given answers | | |Record reasons for â€Å"NYC† in the event the candidate intends to appeal and these will serve as | | |your supporting evidences. | | |Transfer your results to the Overall Assessment Summary Record | | |A candidate is deemed competent if â€Å"C† is ticked in all Assessment Criteria | | |If any Assessment Criteria is graded â€Å"NYC†, the candidate is deemed Not Yet Competent in the | | |Performance Statement and therefore in the assessment | |Feedback |Give feedback to candidate on the outcome and request for feedback. | | |Candidate is to sign on Individual Assessment and Checklist Summary record for Practical | | |Performance Record at the end of the assessment. | | |In the case of â€Å"NYC†, candidate must be reminded of his / her right for appeal. In case where | | |candidate accepts the outcome of the assessment, the candidate will sign the Overall | | |Assessment Summary Record. If the candidate intends to appeal, the assessor will remind | | |candidate of the appeal process and the candidate does not sign the Assessment Record Summary. | Assessment Specification for Written Questions. |SPECIFICATIONS |GUIDELINES | |Duration |xx minutes | |Venue |Training Provider’s room | |Set-up |Chairs and tables for each Candidate | |Documents to be used |For Candidate – Written Assessment Paper | | |For Assessor Written Assessment Paper (with answers) and Individual Assessment | | |and Checklist Summary record | |Pre-assessment instructions (Assessor) |This section is to be conducted after the Practical Performance. | | |If the candidate is unable to clearly express his / her answer in writing, the | | |assessor can request the candidate to draw or demonstrate. The assessor must | | |indicate in the â€Å"Evidence† column of this method of answering the question | | |A variation in the answer may appear which is not 100% describing the given | | |answers. In this case, the assessor can use his or her own discretion to assess if | | |the answer meets the need of the question. Comments must be written in the | | |â€Å"Evidence† column. | | |All questions must be answered | | |Further questions for clarification must be noted down in the â€Å"Evidence† column as | | |well. | |Pre-assessment instructions (Candidate) |There are a total of xx written questions in this section. | | |In the event that you are unclear of the question, you may ask for any | | |clarification before proceeding to answer the question. You are allow to draw or | | |demonstrate if needed | | |If you have no further questions or needs, we shall begin. | |Process |Assessors are to use the Written Assessment Paper (with answers) to rate the | | |answers against the questions. | | |Where assessor is not able to ascertain the answers , this can be supplemented by | | |further oral questions | | |If candidate is not able to answer any question, the candidate should still be | | |allowed to complete the assessment. The unanswered question will be re-asked again | | |at the end of the final question. | | |The candidate must be given other means to express the answer where necessary. | | |The result of the assessment will be made known at the end of the test | |Recording Assessment Result: |Record findings and conclusions in the Individual Assessment and Checklist Summary | | |record | | |Place a tick in the â€Å"C† column for â€Å"Competent† to indicate the outcome of the | | |assessment for a UK. | | |Place a tick in the â€Å"NYC† column for â€Å"Not Yet Competent† to indicate the outcome of| | |the assessment for a UK. | | |Record answers given by candidate. | | |Record any additional questions and answers given. | | |Record reasons for â€Å"NYC† in the event the candidate intends to appeal and these | | |will serve as your supporting evidences. | | |Transfer your results from Individual Assessment and Checklist Summary record to | | |the Overall Assessment Summary Record | | |A candidate is deemed competent if â€Å"C† is ticked in all Underpinning Knowledge | | |questions. | | |If any UK question is graded â€Å"NYC†, the candidate is deemed Not Yet Competent in | | |the Performance Statement and therefore in the assessment | |Feedback |Give feedback to candidate on the outcome and request for feedback. | | |Candidate is to sign on the Individual Assessment and Checklist Summary record and | | |Overall Assessment Summary Record at the end of the assessment. | | |In the case of â€Å"NYC†, candidate must be reminded of his / her right for appeal. In | | |case where candidate accepts the outcome of the assessment, the candidate will sign| | |the Assessment Summary record. If the candidate intends to appeal, the assessor | | |will remind candidate of the appeal process and the candidate does not sign the | | |Overall Assessment Record Summary. | Appeal Process A general practice carried out by assessors is to share the appeal process at the beginning of the assessment. It may give the candidate the assurance that if they fail the assessment, there is a procedure to handle that situation. However, if the candidate is very nervous from the moment he/she enters the room, it is important to assure the candidate that the purpose of the assessment is to assess his/her ability to demonstrate certain knowledge and skills, and to help calm him/her down. It would not be advisable to share the appeal process while conducting the assessment. It would just suggest to the candidate that he/she has failed some sections of the assessment and that may affect the performance of the remaining assessment. If sharing is done at the end of the assessment, it may be redundant especially when the candidate has shown competency according to the assessment criteria. However, if the candidate fails the assessment, he/she might be too emotional to listen to the appeal process. In summary, it is best to share the appeal process at the start of the assessment. Code of Practice for Assessors The National Council for Measurement in Education’s Code of Practice stipulates: 1. The differing needs and requirements of the person(s) being assessed, the local enterprise(s) and/or industry are identified and handled with sensitivity. 2. Potential forms of conflict of interest in the assessment processes and/or outcomes are identified and appropriate referrals are made, if necessary. 3. All forms of harassment are avoided throughout the planning, conduct, reviewing, and reporting of the assessment outcomes. 4. The rights of the candidate(s) are protected during and after the assessment. 5. Personal or interpersonal factors that are not relevant to the assessment of the competency must not influence the assessment outcomes. 6. The candidate(s) is made aware of the rights and processes of appeal 7. Evidence that is gathered during the assessment is verified for validity, reliability, authenticity, sufficiency and currency. 8. Assessment decisions are based on available evidence that can be produced and verified by another assessor. 9. Assessments are conducted within the boundaries of the assessment systems policies and procedures. 10. Formal agreement is obtained from both the candidate(s) and the assessor that the assessment was carried out in accordance with agreed procedures. 11. Assessment tools, systems and procedures are consistent with equal opportunity legislation. 12. The candidate (s) is informed of all assessment reporting processes prior to the assessment 13. The candidate(s) is informed of all known potential consequences of decisions arising from an assessment, prior to the assessment. 14. Confidentiality is maintained regarding assessment results 15. Results are only released with the written permission of the candidate(s) 16. The assessment results are used consistently with the purposes explained to the candidate 17. Self-assessments are periodically conducted to ensure current competencies against the assessment and Workplace Training Competency Standards 18. Professional development opportunities are identified and sought 19. Opportunities for networking amongst assessors are created and maintained 20. Opportunities are created for technical assistance in planning, conducting and reviewing assessment procedures and outcomes. Resources This section provides the reference materials needed to implement and conduct the assessment. Practical Performance Assessment Paper Instructions to Candidates: †¢ Check carefully to ensure you are sitting for the correct paper. †¢ You are required to complete and submit your work assignment within the time allocated to the Assessor for marking. If failure to do so will result in you been considered Not Yet Competent (NYC). Time allocated: xx minutes Task 1: xxx Instruction: 1. xxx Task 2: xxx Instruction: 2. xxx Written Assessment Paper Instructions to Candidates: †¢ There are a total of xx questions. †¢ The candidate shall answer all the questions in this section. †¢ Time allocated: xxmins List of Questions: 1. xx NAME OF APPROVED TRAINING ORGANISATION: |Candidate Name: |NRIC/FIN No. : | |Candidate Designation: |Company: | |Assessor Name: |Date of Assessment: | |Candidate Acknowledgement: |Tick (() | |1. I was given information about the assessment and I have completed the Self Assessment Checklist | | |2. The assessment’s purpose, process and duration were clearly explained | | |3. The assessor checked for my special needs | | |4. The appeal procedure was clearly explained | | |Candidate Signature: Date: | CHECKLIST FOR ASSESSORS |Did I †¦ |Tick (() if you | | |have done so | |Pre-Assessment Preparation | |Ensure the availability and safe working condition of assessment resources such as tools, equipment and materials. | | |Ensure the set-up of assessment site is in accordance with assessment plan and WSH guidelines. | | |Introduce myself in a friendly manner to the candidate. | | |Verify candidate’s identity via his identification documents. | | |Put the candidate at ease. | | |Encourage candidate to seek clarifications if in doubt. | | |Explain the purpose, context and duration of assessment to candidate. | | |Brief candidate on the assessment requirements and process, including clear instructions on the assessment to be | | |taken. | | |Establish the evidences that will be gathered during the assessment. | | |Check with candidate for any special needs. | | |Brief candidate on his rights and process of appeal to the assessment outcome. | | |During Assessment | |Use assessment plan and tools to carry out the conduct of assessment. | | |Use evidence gathered to decide if the relevant criteria are met and make assessment decision. | | |Comply with the Code of Practice (ACTA-CU6) for Assessors when conducting assessment and making assessment decisions. | | |Assess and record candidate’s competency for all assessment criteria (AC) promptly and accurately. | | |Record outcomes in summary record page. (Candidate is considered competent only when he/she is rated ‘C’ for all the | | |ACs. ) | | |Feedback results to candidate. | | |Sign on appropriate pages. | | |Ensure candidate sign on summary record. | | |Check and submit completed form to appropriate person in organization. | | Assessment Record – Practical Performance [Durations: xxmins] |Performance Statements | |Please tick (() |REMARKS | | |Assessment Criteria | | | | |(Candidate is able to) | | | | | |C |NYC | | |PS 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |PS 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |PS 3 | | | | | | | | | | | |PS 4 | | | | | |Remarks: | | | | | | |Assessor Signature: | |Date: | | Assessment Record – Written / Oral Questions [Durations: xxmins] |Underpinning Knowledge|Question |Suggested Answers |Please tick (() |REMARKS | | | |(may include) | | | | | | |C |NYC | | | | | | |. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Remarks: | | | | | | |Assessor Signature: | |Date: | | Overall Assessment Summary Record Competency Unit : xxx Assessment Duration: x Hrs xx mins |APPROVED ASSESSMENT CENTRE: |xxx | |Candidate Name | |NRIC Number | | |(As in NRIC) | | | | |Performance Statements |Assessment|Overall |Date |Assessor Name |Assessor | | | |Method |Result | | |Signature | | | |Indicate |Indicate | | | | | | |C or NYC |C or NYC | | | | | |PS 2 | | | | | | | |PS 3 | | | | | | | |PS 4 | | | | | | |. PP – Practical Performance WQ – Written Questions OQ – Oral Questioning Assessment Outcome: COMPETENT NOT YET COMPETENT Feedback on outcome: | | | | | | Assessor’s Signature: _________________ Date: __________________ Candidate’s Signature: ________________ Date: __________________ * Candidates would be certified with a Statements of Attainment (SOA) only when they have achieved 100% skills competency, as stipulated in the course, and score 80% and above in their post-test (if applicable). Pre-Assessment Information for Candidate. XXX is required to provide candidates with relevant pre-assessment information which include but are not limited to: 1. This assessment covers the following competency unit: †¢ xxx 2. The eligibility to sit for this assessment which include: †¢ Candidates should have at least 6 months of industrial working experience within the last 2 years from the date of application for assessment, or †¢ Candidates should had received training or on-the-job training or personal coaching on topics that are relevant to the selected competency elements of the competency unit 3. The purpose of this assessment is to assess candidate’s competency level in applying products’ assembly skills at operational level in their work places. 4. The assessment duration and methods for the competency unit must be clearly explained and communicated to candidates. 5. For candidates intending to apply for certification under WDA’s Assessment Only Pathway (AOP) they should do a self-evaluation of their competency against the competency unit standards before registering for assessment. (see next Section) 6. The implication of the assessment results which include: †¢ Awarding candidate who passed the assessment sitting with Statement of Attainment (SOA) for the respective competent unit by Workforce Development Agency (WDA). †¢ Obtaining a pass in this assessment does not automatically qualify or imply that the candidate is a R1 pass holder. There are other criteria that to be fulfilled by the candidate as stipulated by Ministry of Manpower (MOM). 7. The disciplinary actions against cheating in the assessment or performing unsafe act despite repeated warning in the assessment must be clearly explained and communicated to candidates. 8. Candidates have the same right of appeal as other candidates who are assessed under the learning pathway. The process of appealing must be clearly explained and communicated to candidates. 9. The conditions of granting a deferred assessment on: †¢ Medical grounds – a medical report or certificate from registered medical practitioners †¢ Unexpected and exceptional grounds which may include (but are not limited to):  ­ accidents (sporting, motor vehicle, etc) where an injury is sustained  ­ bereavement. Unexpected and exceptional circumstances does not include where a candidate had mistaken the day, time or venue of assessment. The process of deferred assessment must be clearly explained and communicated to candidates. Self-Assessment Checklist for Candidate Instructions and Advice 1. This self-Assessment Checklist is designed to assess your competency in the area of xxx. 2. In this self evaluation, you are advised to reflect your current or past work experience where you have acquired the competency in the following good practices at the workplace in your area of responsibility. 3. Please answer all the questions truthfully, and to the best of your knowledge and ability, by putting a tick on either â€Å"YES† or â€Å"NO† column respectively. 4. If you answer â€Å"YES† to all the questions, it is likely you have acquired the required level of competency and ready to take the assessment. You may apply for a certification of your competency through the Assessment Only Pathway with ATOs. 5. You are encouraged to read the Assessment Only Pathway guide (which can be obtained from ATOs) thoroughly to find out more about the assessment for this competency unit before enrolling for the assessment of this module. 6. However, if you have not achieved the expected level of competency through this simple self evaluation, you are also advised to gain more experience, attend a relevant training program, or take on self development before enrolling for the certification. 7. Please note that this self evaluation checklist is not exhaustive. It is meant as a guide only. Please also note that the actual assessment under the AOP certification framework is much more rigorous, consisting of a written test on underpinning knowledge and a comprehensive competency based assessment (CBA) using various CBA methodologies. You must be able to demonstrate or provide evidence that you have acquired the various competency elements within the competency unit during the actual assessment. SELF-ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST xxx For each performance criterion, you should evaluate your knowledge, skills and attitude (KSA) described. If you have the KSA, put a tick (() on the â€Å"YES† column and if no or not sure tick the ‘NO† column. If you do not have the required KSA, write the details of the areas that are needed to learn. Competency Unit: xxx |Performance Statement |Self Evaluation Questionnaire |Your answer (Tick ()|Details of KSA that I | |(Requirements) |(Knowledge, Skills ,Attitude (KSA) I must be able | |don’t have yet | | |to show and tell during the assessment) | | | | | |YES |NO | | | |I know how to †¦ | | | | | |I know how to †¦ | | | | | |I know how to †¦ | | | | |PS 2 |I know how to †¦ | | | | | | | | | | | |I know how to †¦ | | | | | |I know how to †¦ | | | | | |I know how to †¦ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |PS 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |PS 4 | | | | | | | | | | | End of Self-Assessment [pic] ASSESSMENT RECORDS for Competency Unit: xxx Code: (TBA) Self-Assessment Checklist For Competency Unit:

All characters in the novel Essay Example for Free

All characters in the novel Essay All characters in the novel Of Mice and Men are either lonely, bored or in need of escaping from the soulless existence of the itinerant labour. It is based on a society of men leading empty lives, trapped in a lonely life, consisting mainly of hard physical work. There was not enough happiness, love and affection in their lives. The novel is set in California, the Southern states of America, in the 1930s around the time of the Great Depression. The ranch is based in Soledad; which is the Spanish word for Loneliness. The bunkhouse that the men sleep and live in is a long and rectangular building. The walls are white washed and the floor unpainted. In three of the four walls are small, square windows. In the fourth one was a solid door with a wooden latch. There are eight bunks, all with a nailed apple box over them with the opening forward. This made two small shelves for the personal belongings of each ranch hand occupying the certain bunk. On these shelves were little articles, soap, razors, talcum powder, Western magazines, medicines, little vials, combs and a few neckties. There was also a black cast iron stove, and a big square table in the centre of the room, with scattered playing cards across it, and surrounding the table were boxes for the men to sit on. The bunkhouse also had lice and roaches in it! Carlson and the other ranch hands all dream of owning their own land and living and working from this, resulting in wealth and happiness. This was known as the American Dream, this is shown as an opportunity to all people no matter how rich or poor they are. There is a lot of government propaganda, informing people that if they work hard and push their ambitions to the limit, they can make this dream reality. However they all knew, no matter how hard they worked or how successful they were, it was very unlikely of this dream ever becoming reality. Their way of escaping this disappointment was to collect their fifty bucks at the end of the month and of a weekend spend all of it on women and alcohol, usually at the nearest cat-house. During the week they play cards games or horseshoes. Crooks is very lonely, this is due to the fact that he is coloured and everyone knows him as a nigger! He is treated completely differently to all the others, an outsider. He is also crippled, after a horse kicked him and severely damaged his back. In the 1930s it was very racist in America and the coloured people werent allowed to speak up or were too scared to defend themselves in fear of what the white people would do to them. This is the situation Crooks is in. However he is the only coloured person at the ranch, so he has to accept all racial comments on his own. He has his own separate room, which isnt even a room it is a shed that leans off the side of the barn wall. He is isolated from everyone else, therefore unable to socialise. On one occasion Lennie entered the barn to see his pup. He saw Crooks light shining and stood in the doorway of Crooks room. Crooks saw him and said sharply you got no right to come in my room. This heres my room. Nobody got any right in here, but me. He then followed with I aint wanted in the bunkhouse and you aint wanted in my room, they play cards in there, but I cant play because Im black. They say I stink. Well, I tell you all of you stink to me. Crooks reads to amuse himself when he has nothing better to do. This keeps his mind off of the atmosphere and situation he is surrounded by in his everyday life. Curleys wife is perhaps one of the loneliest characters, trapped in her strict and original womans/wifes role. Her daily routine only ever consists of her doing housework, such as cooking Curleys dinner, washing Curleys clothes, making Curleys bed, cleaning Curleys house, etc. If Curley catches her talking to the ranch hands he is always very annoyed by it, she is to stay in the house. She is known as Curleys wife, no one knows her name so they cannot call her by it. One time when she enters the bunkhouse and begins to talk to the ranch hands, Crooks suggests Maybe you better go along to your own house now. We dont want no trouble. It is this idea that she is trouble that makes Curleys wife so upset and angry. Well, I aint giving you no trouble. Think I dont like to talk to somebody ever once in a while? Think I like to stick in that house alla time? Having a husband even makes her loneliness worse, because Curley is so strict about whom she socialises with and what she does. She calls him sarcastically a Swell guy, who Spends all his time sayin what hes gonna do to guys he dont like, and he dont like nobody. Curleys wife tries to escape her loneliness and sadness by dreaming of being an actress or a model. She had been offered the chance before I tell you I could of went with shows An a guy tol me he could put me in pitchers. Curleys wife is also very good at flirting, this attracts male attention. Therefore just for a moment she is listened to and is the centre of attention, this moment matters so much to her because she is being paid attention to for once, that she makes a very bad habit of it. However the ranch hands have got used to her scheming ways and do not want to risk getting canned because of a tart. However Lennie and George are different to the other ranch hands, they may live a lonely existence, but they have each other. Other than the other ranch hands expressing their feelings about their hopes, dreams, lonely lives etc, George and Lennie are the only characters we really get to know. All other ranch hands havent got a family or anything to look forward to, but it is different with George and Lennie; they believe they have a future and as long as they have got each other, it doesnt matter whether they have a family or not. These men love each other. They talk to each other and know that the other cares for them, because George looks after Lennie, and Lennie looks after George. However, George has a much greater job in looking after Lennie, than Lennie has in looking after George. Lennie is a bit of a dunce and is always forgetting things, but George has the brains. They both are physically well built, but Lennie does not realise his own strength sometimes, he is dangerously strong. Lennie is the physical side of the pair, whereas George is the mental. The fact that they have each other gives them more of a chance of success, than the other ranch hands. Lennie loves George to tell him what; one-day things will be like. Their dream is to one day buy a little house, with a ten acres, a winmill, a kitchen, an orchard to grow cherries, apples, peaches, cots, nuts, and a few berries, a section on the land to grow alfalfa that Lennie will use to feed the rabbits with, hutches and pens full with pigs, chickens, cows, goats, cats, pigeons, a dog and rabbits that Lennie could pet, a smoke house so they could kill the pigs and then smoke it, for smoked ham and bacon etc, and for them to literally live off the fatta the lan'. They would only work six or seven hours a day. Lennie likes to pet, smooth, soft, furry things, as a kind of comfort. Other than for George and animals, love and affection are withheld, not only from Lennie, but also for all the ranch hands. This is why they have their own individual comfort or way of escaping from the repetitive daily routine and loneliness. Candy is a dissimilar character from the other ranch hands. He is very lonely and sad. He has no hand, but a very old dog that he cares for very much. This dog is similar to Candy. They are both very old and when Carlson shoots the dog, because it smells, has no teeth, he cannot eat, is stiff with rheumatism, is nearly blind and Carlson thinks it will be better to put the dog out of his ageing misery. Candy wants people to treat him once he is canned like this. This is because he wont have no place to go, an he cant get no more jobs. The other ranch hands say that he can replace the dog with one of Lulus pups, but of course that wouldnt be the same, never is anyone or anything the equivalent, everyone and everything is unique. Candy seems to think that when he is dead, people will say the same thing about him. When a new ranch hand comes and replaces him, hell be forgotten. For obvious reasons Candy is upset and hurt by this. It is as if the characteristics of his dog and the way the other men treat the dog, symbolises Candy. Candy wants to join George and Lennie in their dream. Candy has already got three hundred bucks and another fifty coming at the end of the month, when the men get paid. He explains that he aint much good, but I could cook, tend the chickens, and hoe the garden some. Then when George and Lennie get their fifty bucks each at the end of the month, they will have four hundred and fifty bucks, and although the woman wants six hundred bucks, George thinks she will accept their offer as a deposit and then George will get a job and start to collect the rest, while Candy and Lennie could work on the land as well as sell eggs etc, making more money. This is Candys route of escaping. Everything seems to be falling into place and their dream looks like it could become reality. This is everything a man wants and Candy is thrilled he is part of it. However much their dream looks real, it all ends when Curleys wife tries her old tricks with Lennie. Curleys wife enters the barn, as Lennie sits there mourning over his pup, he has just accidentally killed! George has already warned Lennie about Curleys wife, says she is trouble, so Lennie refuses to talk to her, George says I aint to have nothing to do with you- talk to you or nothing. Curleys wife says in a innocent voice, All the guys got a horse-shoe tenement goin on, so Why cant you talk to me? She eventually persuades Lennie that it is safe to talk to her. They talk for ages and Lennie tells her how he likes to pet nice things with my fingers, sof things. She tells Lennie to feel right here, on her hair. Lennie was enjoying stroking her hair until she warned him not to muss it up. She then got angry because Lennie wasnt listening to her. She went to pull away and Lennie clasped his fingers tightly in her hair and wouldnt let go. She began to shout, you let go. Lennie began to get scared because he thought George would hear and go mad. He covered her mouth and nose to prevent her screaming, and continued to beg her to be quiet. She continued to struggle and he shook her. Suddenly her body flopped like a fish. She was dead! Lennie ran to the brush that George had told him to hide in when they first arrived in Soledad if he ever got into trouble. When Candy found Curleys wife dead and told all the ranch hands, they all knew it was Lennie! Most of the men wanted to kill Lennie, but George got there first. George knew that Lennie would be scared if half a dozen men ran towards him shooting, but if George was to do it at the back of his head, just like Candys old dog it would be pain free. When George found him, Lennie asked for the story of their dream to be told to him and questioned George why he wasnt mad at him, but obviously if this was Georges last moments with Lennie he didnt want to be mad at him. As George told the story and paused every so often, Lennie would say go on or Gonna do it soon as if he knew what George was about to do and was encouraging George to get it over and done with. George finally shot Lennie. Lennie jarred forward and the settled peacefully as he lay on the sand. George just sat stiffly and silently n the bank, looking at his hand that had just pulled the trigger disgustedly. George knew it was for the best, where ever they were to go Lennies unrecognised strength would lead to trouble; it had already, both in Weed and Soledad. Lennie was trapped by his strength. Although, Lennie has now been released from pain by no longer being able to kill others and from not getting shot by half a dozen men cruelly, but peacefully by George. The upsetting thing is, that Lennie was so afraid of being alone and away from George, and now he was just that. It was all over!!! George is now free; he is no longer trapped by his want of freedom, of constantly looking after Lennie. I think the novel tries to give us the message that people try to lead their lives as successfully as possible, in order to result in the best possible outcome. However this is very hard to succeed. The ranch hands wanted the American Dream to become reality, but is very unlikely and as shown does not happen. The novel gave a very positive view of the American dream, but this is erroneous and does not come true. The chances of finding true, lasting friendship and happiness are also very unlikely as it is always spoilt by misfortune, arguments, inconveniences and sometimes death, as in this case.

PESTEL Analysis Of Tune Hotels UK

PESTEL Analysis Of Tune Hotels UK The hotel industry within the United Kingdom is a highly competitive market with many different hotel organisations, such as Tune Hotels, each trying to offer something unique, desirable and profitable. It is therefore important for organisations within this industry to remain constantly aware of the external factors that could potentially affect their performance and productivity. In this report I am going to identify and explain the key political, economical and socio-demographical factors that are currently having an effect upon the industry; these are three headings within a PESTLE analysis. PESTLE analysis is a tool that can aid organisations when making strategies by helping them understand the external environment in which they operate in the present and future (Renewal Associates, 2003). Once I have done this I will then draw upon my analysis and conclude with my thoughts and recommendations about the proposed UK expansion of Tune Hotels. The UK Hotel Industry As for most business organisations, it has been a tough time financially due to the recent global recession; however, according to an article on www.hotel-industry.co.uk, things are looking up for the hotel industry. Despite the recession, the UK hotel industry is continuing to expand, with over 10,400 rooms opening in 2010 and a further 43,000 for the period 2011-2015.'(Hotel Construction, 2010). The article goes on to mention how consumers are simply opting for low-cost, budget branded hotels, such as Tunes, during this time of financial uncertainty. Political Environment The political environment is an area that business organisations need to monitor constantly as politics can be very unpredictable and influential at times. (Palmer, A. Hartley, B. 2006, P7-8) This is because governments have the power to introduce legislation and regulations that may have a profound effect on organisations. Whilst the UK is a relatively free market, the government will still keep a close on what is going on in the private sector to ensure that businesses are functioning within the best interests of the country. These are just some of the political factors that may have an effect on the UKs hotel industry: * Digital Economy Act 2010 The Digital Economy Act 2010 is an act of parliament which was put in place mainly to decrease the amount of illegal file sharing and copyright infringements that currently takes place in todays digital society. However this has been met by fierce criticism from establishments, such as hotels, that offer free Wi-Fi internet connections hot spots. If hotels guests break this law whilst using the hotels connection, then it is the hotel that is, ultimately, held responsible and consequently face the possibility of having their internet connection disabled by the service provider (Benson, P. 2010). This may put hotels in a sticky situation as they will have to decide whether or not to start charging for the convenience of internet connectivity; which could put potential customers off. * New Immigration Policies New immigration policies from the coalition government have caused some concern for the UK hospitality industry. Caps on immigration outside of the European Economic Area could neglect the issue of skills shortages in the UKs hospitality sector, claim the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, who go on to say: Apart from operational roles such as chefs and bar staff, a shortage has been highlighted in management skills. Shortages in the UK market continue to exist with only 10 per cent of hotel managers and six per cent of restaurant and catering managers having qualifications at managerial level (Essentiallycatering.co.uk, 2010). Economic Environment * Crowded Market There is currently much competition for Tune in the UKs budget hotel market at the moment, especially in London. Brands such as easyHotel, Travelodge and Premier Inn all offer a similar service to that of Tune Hotels, but at lower prices; and some of them offer extras such as towels within the room price. Travelodge currently offers rooms at a promotional price of 19 and, like the Premier Inn chain, their rooms are family-friendly and they provide most extras free of charge, states Susannah Streeter (2010). * Increase in UK tourism spending The increase in UK visitors comes after the recession and the fall in sterlings value against the euro and dollar deterred Britons from making overseas trips. As a result, spending by tourists in the city hit a record 10.5billion (Sri Carmichael, 2009). This is great news for the hotel industry. * VAT Increase As the coalition government start to act upon the UKs budget deficit, the recent VAT increase from 17.5% to 20% will no doubt put more strain on the consumers disposable income and put more strain on peoples budgets. Lisa Francesca Nand (2011) states that the increase will discourage spending and deter UK-based guests and overseas visitors alike. However there are positives that can be drawn from this VAT increase for some businesses. Such increases will continue to divert customers away from highly priced hotels with underutilised facilities as Mark Lankester suggested in the Tune Hotels Press Release (2010). People will be looking for cheaper No frills accommodation such as Tune Hotels. The low cost, limited service business model has been a proven success over the past couple of years with in other industries organisations such as AirAsia, an affiliate company of Tune Hotels, boasting success. Socio-Demographic Environment * London 2012 Olympics The London 2012 Olympic Games have understandably been described as an opportunity of a lifetime for the UK hospitality industry by hotel-industry.co.uk. The games will bring in an influx of people from all over the world to London which will undoubtedly mean increased demand for hotels. However I think that this will only bring limited custom for Tune Hotels; as the games are stretched out over a two week period, I think that the people who are staying in London for a couple of days will be more than happy with the service that Tune Hotels provide as a comfortable bed and a hot shower is all that most people require during a short hotel stay. On the other hand, I think long-stay visitors will be put off by the inability to budget under the pay-as-you-use system operated by Tune Hotels. * Location Location is very important within the hotel industry, even more so with the London 2012 Olympics around the corner. Hotels in London need to be close to transport links, attractions and other amenities in order to draw in a healthy numbers of customers as nobody wants a hotel too far away from their desired location. This is a potential problem for Tune Hotels and their proposed UK expansion as there could be some difficulty in finding appropriate sites for their ambitious figure of fifteen hotels in an already saturated market. Recommendations and conclusion All in all I think Tune Hotels have a fairly good chance of making the UK expansion a success with their low costing business model, particularly with the Olympics on the horizon and the increased demand for hotel accommodation in London that the games will generate. However, I think it would be wise for Tune to offer some kind of incentive or special Olympic package to potential guests during the games to lure them away from rival hotels; an all-inclusive option for the guests staying for longer periods, maybe? However, I think fifteen hotels is a little ambitious in the competitive jungle of London and Mark Lankester should think about lowering his aspirations ever so slightly to and start talking about more realistic numbers like five or six. This would mean Tune could concentrate on having a smaller number of hotels in more desirable places as opposed to a large number of hotels in less sought after locations. The expansion would also create a number of jobs for the people of the UK

College Candy Making Success That Much Sweeter Essay -- Drugs

As the saying goes, â€Å"Desperate times call for desperate measures.† American college students of the 21st century have been forcefully subjected to highly competitive environments due to a multitude of external factors. As of late, the prescription drug, Adderall has become the drug of choice for ambitious college students, and has earned the title of being today’s college candy and academic steroid. First introduced and approved by the U.S. FDA, Adderall became the common treatment for those suffering from ADHD and narcolepsy. The drug is considered a schedule II stimulant, falling in the same category as cocaine and codeine due to its addictive nature (Tran). Nicknamed â€Å"addy† by college students, Adderall and its effects have been proven to be advantageous to many seeking to maximize work productivity; the drug keeps students energized and engaged in their studies for hours on end (N.S.). As reported by the U.S. Department of Human Health and Human Se rvices, â€Å"among persons aged 18 to 22, full-time college students were twice as likely to use Adderall non-medically in the past year as those who had not been in college at all or were only part-time students† (U.S.). What essentially persuades a college student to take Adderall non-medically? A student’s competitive environment may be an influential factor. The issue of Adderall abuse among college campuses is concerning due to the dangerous short and long term effects in which many of its users are unaware of. An analysis of Adderall usage among college students will be performed in order to determine what can be done to prevent Adderall abuse in college students. Upon examination, it was found that the competitive nature of college campuses in California is resultant of both ec... ...Health and Human Services, 7 Apr. 2009. Print. 02 Dec. 2011. Anonymous. â€Å"Adderall Abuse on College Campuses.† Personal Interview. 22 Nov. 2011. Tranh, Pharmacist Lam. â€Å"Adderall Abuse on College Campuses.† E-mail Interview. 19 Nov. 2011. Mai, Cassandra. "Adderall Abuse on College Campuses." Personal interview. 19 Nov. 2011. Moore, Elaine A. The Amphetamine Debate: the Use of Adderall, Ritalin, and Related Drugs for Behavior Modification, Neuroenhancement, and Anti-aging Purposes. Jefferson, NC: McFarland &, 2011. Print. N.S. "Prescription Stimulants Are Big on Campus." Science News.169.21 (2006): 334. JSTOR. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. Rampell, Catherine. "Many With New College Degree Find the Job Market Humbling." New York Times [New York] 18 May 2011. Print. "U.S. Approval for Adderall XR to Treat Adults† - MedNews. 18 Aug. 2011. JSTOR. Web. 01 Dec. 2011.

Essay --

Do you know what does corporate social responsibility mean? According to a few information from ic.gc.ca (Canada government website), Corporate social responsibility abbreviated by CSR that mean the way firms integrate social, environmental and economic concerns into their values, culture, decision making, strategy and operations in a transparent and accountable manner and thereby establish better practices within the firm, create wealth and improve society. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development has described CSR as the business contribution to sustainable economic development. Building on a base of compliance with legislation and regulations, CSR typically includes commitments and activities pertaining to: corporate governance and ethics, health and safety, environmental stewardship, human rights (including core labor rights), human resource management, community involvement, development and investment , corporate philanthropy and employee volunteering , customer s atisfaction and adherence to principles of fair competition , anti-bribery and anti-corruption measures accountability, transparency and performance reporting, supplier relations, for both domestic and international supply chains. Generally, corporate social responsibility is usually useful for business because it can improve company’s net income. However, there are a lot of discussions over the topic. Some agree that social responsibility helps boost the company’s bottom line. Others say social responsibility really drags down the company’s bottom line. In my opinion, corporate social responsibility can improve company’s bottom line (net income). I want to talk about Sheraton hotel for interesting example to support my idea. First, Sheraton hotel is... ...l. If they are successful, they will create brand name for that company and help the company to increase revenues, profits. It means the corporate social responsibility improve company’s bottom line. In conclusion, I think the corporate social responsibility improve company’s bottom line. For these reasons, we also can see famous companies on the world; they have the corporate social responsibility policies to refer business strategy. They will assist net income of company to improve and significant rise in profits. Reference: Porter, K. (n.d.). American cancer society. Retrieved from http://action.acscan.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8703 Corporate social responsibility. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_social_responsibility corporate social responsibility. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/csr-rse.nsf/eng/home

Music Lyrics Essay

The lyrics of a song define everything about it. Sometimes, the musical score and the tunes playing in the background can dominate the lyrics. Therefore, the listeners tend to pay less attention to the lyrics. How a particular song is worded can make or mar the meaning of what it means to its target audience. Today, we have censor boards and authorities who rate movies and let the hoi polloi know what category of movies are fine for kids, families and adults to watch. This demarcation becomes very tough and cumbersome when we take the lyrics of a song into account. Songs take almost no effort to make and they just need a person’s good voice and a rhythm to be set to music. However, sound judgment is the prerogative of the person who writes the lyrics and the singer who breathes life into the song. If we could vote and get a few well-known names in the music industry who are already established to form an official council for judging the lyrics of all these songs, that would be an excellent idea. The panel must include musicians, singers and directors who are open to all kinds of music and any kind of language used, but at the same time can be trusted to exercise some degree of control when it comes to the lyrics of the songs given to them for their approval or their rejection, as the case may be. They need not necessarily be from the upper echelon of the society. They need to be rational individuals who like music and understand where they need to draw the line when it comes to the songs being heard by children, adolescents, etc. To sum it up, we must allow some degree of freedom and be a little lenient to promote creativity and talent among the masses and for the masses. Who can be the best judge should be left to the people to choose from their icons. References M. William Krasilovsky, Sidney Shemel, John M. Gross, Jonathan Feinstein (1997): This business of music: the definitive guide to the music industry

Marketing: Sense and New Balance Essay

New Balance has been in business for 103 years. The company started in Boston manufacturing shoes of police officers, waiters and any other occupations that kept people on their feet all day. In the 1970’s New Balance switched its focus and decided to make athletic shoes for all athletes. New Balance marketing department decided it was time to go overseas and to make money so, they open retail store in 2010. The stores are called Experience Stores located in Beijing and Shanghai. New Balance stores decoration emphasizes on the company’s heritage and accomplishment over the years. The marketing team of New Balance uses five senses to market the Experience Store in China. From the time customer walk in the door they get the feeling they’re in a different era from the music to smell of the store. A DNA ribbon† in each Experience Store accents the company’s history and accomplishments. The store setting promotes DNA concept and brings customer to the second floor where the store has a more modern setting. New Balance was planning its entry to China the Experience stores shows the concept of sensory branding that is the process in which is a brand experience that calls upon all of the senses in reflecting a company’s brand. To keep the concept of Total Fit the stores include healthy running tips, pointers on foot care and input from well known runners in China. Questions: 1. Do you think opening retail stores in China is a good move for New Balance? Why or Why not? I think it was a good move for New Balance to move to China. It’s a good idea for any company or any company to expand their business overseas it is just good business practice this day and age. 2. New Balance calls its new retail stores â€Å"Experience Stores† in your opinion what does the company mean by experience and how does that experience translate to sales? I think New Balance call its retail stores Experience Store because they have been in business for a long time. Experience is a good teacher with that been say New Balance should know how to generate sales.

Structural Family Therapy

Structural Family Therapy (SFT) has a few interventions within the theoretical model that I could see myself using with clients (families) from diverse backgrounds with diverse presenting problems. I am in agreement with the way this model looks at the different types of families and the types of issues they present with such as the patterns common to troubled families; some being â€Å"enmeshed,† chaotic and tightly interconnected, while others are â€Å"disengaged,† isolated and seemingly unrelated. This model also helped me understand that families are structured in â€Å"subsystems† with â€Å"boundaries,† their members not seeing these complexities and problems that are going on between them. Compared to the four family and couple therapy models in this paper, I think this model fits the most with Adlerian assumptions for the following reasons. This model understands and speaks to the complexities in the family system, the roles that each member takes on how they relate to each other, of power, and hierarchy, thus treating the family system holistically. This is also similar to the emphasis on democratic parenting skills that Adler focused on, with the aim to help families understand that relationships based on power and hierarchy are not effective in the long run. A few other similarities between SFT and Adlerian interventions are the use of reenactment, metaphors, and focusing on the family’s strengths to work toward a common goal of a changing the existing structure of the family to a healthier one. Role of the Therapist: When using this model, I would be comfortable as the therapist as my goal would be to join the system using myself to transform it. In that role, I would be active and directive, determining the structure of the therapy and facilitating the process. This model may work better with families from diverse background because from personal experience and understanding, it may be easier for Asians to let the therapist take on the facilitator role, structuring and directing because most Eastern cultures and families are run that way. I like the aspect of this model where the therapist seeks to change the maladaptive patterns by choreographing family interactions in session in order to create the opportunity for new, more functional interactions to emerge, using the major techniques of joining (engaging and entering the family system), diagnosing (identifying maladaptive interactions and family strengths), and restructuring (transforming maladaptive interactions). By learning how to use this model well, I could learn to assess and facilitate healthy family interactions based on cultural norms of the family being helped when using this theoretical model in practice. Interventions: Most of Minuchin’s interventions under this model resonated with me, however it seems as if this model (and Minuchin himself) tends to be quite directive, I will have to keep in mind that for some families this may not be the best approach to take because they may find it offensive and crossing their (the family’s) boundaries. I also think that with the use of common sense and after building an alliance with the family, the direct approach can be a healthy no-nonsense way of helping the clients see the problem, and facilitating change may not be a process that gets dragged on for months. I think practicing the intervention of joining could benefit me as a therapist because I as the therapist would support specific behaviors or verbalizations to increase the strength and independence of every member of the family, subsystems, and alliances. I could do this by adjusting to the communication style and perceptions of the family members to â€Å"join† the system, making the goal to establish an effective therapeutic relationship with the family. I can also resonate with using restructuring where I would be able to utilize therapeutic interventions that bring about change through modification in the family structure. Functional Family Therapy Theory: Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is a theoretical model that fits with me for the following reasons. FFT’s three intervention phases- engagement and motivation, behavior change, and generalization- are straight forward techniques for the therapist to follow and interventions that are interdependent. I like the systematic approach to understanding families in this model, and that it can be used as a prevention and intervention model when dealing with family systems. I think this model is quite similar ith Adlerian assumptions because the use of techniques such as engagement and motivation establishes a family-focused perception of the presenting problem that serves to increase the family members hope and expectation of change, decrease resistance, improve alliance with one another and create greater trust between family and therapist, reduce negativity within family, and assist in building respect for individual differences and values. Clinician s provide concrete behavioral intervention to guide and model specific behavior changes such as parenting, communication, and conflict management. Role of the Therapist: As a future therapist whose goal is to practice with diverse populations, I would be comfortable using functional therapy because of the flexible integration of clinical theory as part of the model’s design which offers an opportunity to meet families where they are most comfortable, understand and encourage their natural social networks and to provide culturally and linguistically responsive services as truly part of the treatment process. I think this model has flexibility and extends to all family members and thereby results in effective moment-by-moment decisions in the intervention setting, thus being systemic and individualized. In my personal opinion and experience, I find that the field of psychology is lacking in diverse cultural competencies as much as the society is diverse in its population. I believe that as with using any theoretical model, the therapists’ cultural knowledge needs to include understanding of the many cultural considerations influencing the effectiveness of treatment when dealing with clients from diverse backgrounds. When servicing the individuals in the family, care and attention needs to be directed towards family and community norms and values around help seeking, secrecy and confidentiality, family roles, child rearing and spiritual practices. Interventions: One of the main interventions of Functional Family Therapy that resonates with me is that one of the prime goals of this model is to identify the primary focus of intervention (the family) and reflect an understanding that positive and negative behaviors both influence and are influenced by the relationships each family member has with one another. Therefore, making functional therapy a multi systemic program, meaning that it focuses on the multiple domains and systems within which families live and interact with one another. Within this context, FFT works first to develop family members’ inner strengths and sense of being able to improve their situations by using skill building techniques. These characteristics provide the family with a platform for change and future functioning that extends beyond the direct support of the therapist and other social systems. As hopeful as it may sound, when using this theoretical model, I as the therapist could lead the family to greater self sufficiency that work for them as a team, and not against each other. Solution-Focused Therapy Theory: The way the Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) theoretical model fits me is that it focuses on exceptions to the family’s problem, working towards a change in behavior which can naturally develop through this process. I think this model is similar to the Adlerian assumptions where it is future oriented and personally, I think it is quite an insight-oriented model, not getting too deep into one particular family member's â€Å"pathology,† but rather focusing on what the system can do to adapt to it, and allows the family decide if that â€Å"pathology† is a problem or not. Like the Adlerian model, SFT looks at the family system holistically, taking every member into account yet working as a whole towards a common goal of having a healthier relationship with one another. I think this is an essential aspect in family therapy because he therapist is not only dealing with one individual, but a few, with different personality types and world views. Role of the Therapist: The aspects of this theory that I like is that it differs from some traditional therapy models and does not focus on the cause of the family’s problems nor dictated the way the family is supposed to work, but focuses more on a better approach that moves the family focus off of what is wrong and onto what is right, stresses the resources and skills clients already have and bring into therapy, and helps the family members take on the role of the experts (which they hold anyway) and take responsibility for setting their own goals and reaching them. Putting this into practice, I would see the family not become stuck in a passive and helpless role as a family unit, locked into a problem narrative they rehearse over and over again, but more active participants in the therapeutic process. From the South-East Asian perspective, this model could be effective working with multi-cultural families because the therapists maintain a future more directed focus, with language like â€Å"as things get better†¦ † â€Å"lets work on positive reinforcement with the kids this week†¦ â€Å". From my personal experiences and observations, because the idea of therapy is still a very new, almost unpopular concept, it is difficult for South East Asians to do too much ‘processing’ of a negative situation, and would rather prefer to focus on the positive, which in turn may give them insight into the negative, leading to a positive change. Interventions: The intervention that resonated with me in this model is that solution building is the goal, and as the family changes the language that shapes how they think about the problem, they change the language that shapes how they think about the solution. This model does not put too much emphasis on what is missing and that which causes woe for the family, but what is positive and present and that which can lead to a healthier relationship amongst the family members. From my viewpoint, there are quite a few similarities between SFT and the interventions used in the Adlerian model that resonate with me personally and I will use as part of my interventions in the future. For example, asking each member the ‘miracle question’ such as â€Å"if one night you were sleeping and a miracle happened and fixed this (the presenting problem) problem, what would that look like? As it is the goal from the Adlerian perspective, the key with this question from the SFT perspective is not to immediately â€Å"find the cure†, but rather to refocus their attention on the elements they need to construct a new and positive story of how their life is going to be. I also like the intervention in this theory that rather than summing up wha t the therapist thinks the client is saying, the therapist asks questions to focus and direct the client's thinking and view; which in turn gives the other family members a chance to listen and understand where the family member is coming from as well. The solution may not even look like it will fit or resolve the problem, however a small enough change will nudge the system in a different direction and that may be all that is needed for the family to move towards a positive change. Integrative Behavioral Therapy Theory: Integrative Behavioral Therapy (IBT) is a newer model based on traditional models of behavioral couples therapy. In this particular model, one of the goals of therapy is to help the couple understand that some problems can be resolved by compromise, but realistically some likely can not. Also, the aim for this model is to help the couple see that it is not the incompatibilities, but the rigid, negative, and excessive emotional responses that can develop from these unresolved issues that creates the problems and misunderstandings between them. I do believe the models of this theory because it is helping the couple realize that talking about how they feel and think about problems sometimes is necessary before they go on to accept them. Also, I like the approach of the theory that most partners can learn ways to alter the negative emotional responses they have to problems, responses that make them, as well as their partners, unhappy. However, on the other hand, this theory tends to have an optimistic approach that most partners can learn new ways to resolve relational problems, but realistically human behavior is not as easy to change as this theory predicts it can. Role of the Therapist: I can see myself using parts of this theoretical model for the following reasons. I think this model has somewhat of a no-nonsense approach and suggests that simply talking about how one feels and thinks about a problem is not very helpful; rather, teaching the couple to do something about it is what can really help them. However, for the partners to learn ways to break bad patterns of behavior that cause problems in their relationship, as this model suggests, is easier said than done in some relationships. As this model suggests, most partners can learn new ways to compromise and resolve problems, making each other happier, it is a concept that may be quite challenging for couples to put into practice outside of the therapeutic setting, where they have the therapist to play the role of the coach in their relationship. Therefore, as much as I love the idea of a couple not only talking the talk, but walking the walk, this may be a struggle with most couples who are stagnant in their ways and thoughts, it would certainly take it’s time (as well as money) in putting this theory into practice. Interventions: While I could see the interventions in this model being a little easier to work with when working with an individual, it would be difficult with a couple because I would not only be dealing with one personality type, but two different one’s, sometimes very different. Further, at the end of therapy, it is hard to know if the couple will recover from their problems well enough to have a healthier relationship. Thus, not knowing that the initial improvements that the couple works on during therapy even appear to last as the couple goes onto being and making it on their own. The addition of a â€Å"communication skills† to this therapy may be able to help improve the lasting effect of treatment to some extent for the couple. Emotion-Focused Therapy Theory: The theoretical model of Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) would be a good fit for me for the following reasons. The speaking and understanding of emotions is a huge part of any/every relationship, and this theory views both partners as lacking in some skills in misunderstanding such emotions; men need to expand their emotional repertoire and women need to feel powerful enough to express their needs. Also, validation of one’s feelings, i. . fear, sadness, hurt, anger, is an important part of growth, intimacy and understanding between a couple. It is when emotions are not heard or misunderstood that couple’s begin holding grudges and the relationship undoubtedly suffers. That is why this model of therapy is so important, is because it focuses on an individuals emotions, which is one of the most salient parts of change in human behavior, in turn validating the partners' emotions and attachment needs, responding genuinely to the partners individually, and try to stir the two partners' own ability to heal themselves and their relationship. In my opinion, EFT is humanistic based, and believes the couple can heal itself. This way, I as the therapist should not be doing more work than the couple, rather leading them in a direction that does not shows a patriarchal pathologization of connection and attachment (women's ways of relating), and idealization of separation and individuation (men's ways of relating). Role of the Therapist: I would be comfortable using this theoretical model in the future for the following reasons. I believe that in this model the therapy session is used as a healing time where a corrective emotional experience between partners happens, and it is that process that leads to the method of therapeutic change. EFT has the unique factors of seeing change in therapy where there is focus on the partners emotions, in turn leading the therapist to empower the clients. When used in a clinical setting, I believe I would benefit from using this model because I would be able to help my clients understand that when one partner expresses their underlying feelings, the other should change their perceptions in an understanding way after hearing their feelings. Also, with this model I would be able to teach my clients to learn to understand their underlying emotions and to productively express their emotional needs to their partner. Foremost, pointing out to my clients that they both need to take responsibility for their emotional needs and to be able to receive validation from the other partner for those needs. Being from a South-East Asian background, I have noticed that I am pulled towards therapy models that are culturally sensitive. EFT is culturally sensitive as universal emotions between the couple are examined, but placed in a personal cultural context. For example, shame is universal, but shame takes on an additional role in the Pakistani culture. Anger is universal, but often takes different forms when men and women express it. Responsibility is universal, but what's â€Å"a man's responsibility† and â€Å"a woman's responsibility† is determined but the culture's views of marriage. Interventions: One of the interventions in this model that resonated with me is that I, as the therapist, have to seek out vulnerable emotions in my clients, and very slowly build the awareness of them, an example can be of moving from â€Å"uncomfortable† to â€Å"upset† to â€Å"hurt† eventually. On the other hand, this may be difficult to do in some clients with a South-East Asian and/or Asian and/or Middle Eastern descent because most individuals from that region find it difficult to face their emotions or being vulnerable in front of a ‘stranger’ (the therapist) because of cultural upbringing. Hence, it may be a challenging concept to bring into practice when dealing with population from the East because most people from that part of the world are raised and taught to conceal their emotions and not expose them to show one’s vulnerability, which in turn means being a failure for individuals. This means, I as the therapist will probably need to take more time building a relationship alliance with my clients so we can make use of the valuable interventions that this model provides. Another salient part of this model I can see myself using in practice is when I am uncovering the â€Å"primary† or underlying emotions, I notice the language the partners use. For instance, the partner's may say things like â€Å"I feel like I'm drowning,† it may seem dramatic, but it captures an intense, painful, and powerful emotional experience of the individual. I can point out to my clients that the â€Å"secondary† emotions of anger and resentment are far easier to show and talk about which many couples end up doing.